Natural Science and Mathematics Blog

The life of a student-athlete at the Mount can be incredibly demanding at times. Many student-athletes within the science program additionally go above and beyond their required classes and practices. Many pursue individual research during their time at the Mount. This can often be a great experience for the student-athletes. Zach Call (C’17), a Chemistry major on the Baseball team, stressed the importance research provided him as well as his time as a student-athlete. Zach’s research was published in the Journal of Visualized Experiments. He says, “This research experience and the publication has been a huge factor in applications and acceptance into Graduate School.” He adds, “Research experience along with a publication as an undergrad carries a lot of weight with admission committees at any school.” He additionally was able to present his research at the American Chemistry Society meetings in Ithaca, Boston, and Philadelphia.

Sarah Bonson (C’17), a Chemistry major on the Swim team, notes the significance research has had on her time as a student. She states “Research has allowed me to apply the knowledge which I have obtained in the classroom to real-life, real-world scenarios. I have been able to develop information from textbooks into laboratory skills which allow me to work to solve problems creatively.” Sarah most recently presented her research at the American Chemistry Society in San Francisco. Sarah, who is attending the University of Illinois next fall, noted the great preparation her research provided her. She said, “doing research as an undergraduate has helped to prepare me for graduate school and a career in research.”

The experience of both Zach and Sarah demonstrate how The Mount provides a supportive environment for any student-athlete to thrive. It is great to see student-athletes who are able to fully take advantage of the academic and athletic opportunities the Mount has to offer. The research these students conduct is incredibly valuable to their learning, personal growth, and professional preparation. It allows the students to take their hard work in the classroom, and apply it to real-world applications. Research is supported, in part, by your donations. If you would like to learn more about how we support student research or more make a donation, we encourage to check out Science Scholar Fellowship Fund Endowment. Click here for more: http://msmary.edu/School_of_natural_science_and_math/endowment-for-science-scholar-fellowship-fund.html